“COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS COMMONVALUES ALL LEAD US. OUR FUTUREDEPENDS ON IT AND OUR PRESENT IS GOING TO BE VASTLY BETTERWHEN WE GET BACK TO THESEBASICS.”

Joan Blades

Although I am addressing this to my fellow Kansans I believe that those outside the state could take a bit away from this. I am addressing this to both the Republican and Democrats in Topeka and all the party faithful that end up giving us the slate of candidates to choose from each election.

I have stated again and again that the only reason I register as a Republican is that 95% of the voters in my county are, and very often there is no choice from the Democrats running for office, that the winners are all in the primary. I don’t send money to a party, serve as a committeeman, or go to party meetings.

I am Independent, and if you must label me, I lean closer to Libertarian than Rhino. I vote for a person and issues. And most times I am not pleased with the choices I have to make. So now for some advice.

Right now Kansas is in as bad a shape as I have seen it in a long time. The governor is not a shining example of what I would like to see in that office. And the choices offered by the other party seem to be just as bad.

Right now there would be a Democratic governor if that party had just switched the candidates around. The man who would have been governor may have been well known in Northeast Kansas and among those political junkies who do nothing but watch Topeka. But the rest of the state knew who the candidate for Lieutenant governor was and liked.

So for those who get red faced about the election you only have yourselves to blame. As for who the Republicans have, just knowing the name is not enough. Even with the best of intentions things are in a mess. So how can we make this a learning moment?

I advise those in both parties to start right now and start looking for a candidate that the whole state knows, likes, and can support. And bringing home politicians from Washington is not a choice.

Then start looking at all the real problems and quit the political posturing. What is good for Kansas has nothing to do with the party. What factors create jobs have more to do with people feeling confident enough to expand or create a business and jobs in the state. It has to do with feeling that the jobs are actually wanted here and create the conditions that foster this.

This is basic Economic Development principles. The climate of business in taxation, regulation, education of workers, and access to markets all have the ability to create jobs. Government can effect this by getting out of the way or putting up barriers.

The annual hand wringing of cutting this and that because of shortfalls could be spared if there were things cut that actually make a difference rather than hinder the future. There are facilities in small towns and rural communities all over the state that go unused or torn down because there is no business that can go into them. Look at the thousands of square feet of Boeing Plant space, that was paid for by tax payer incentives, that need a good climate and innovative thinkers to fill.

It takes a positive attitude, innovative ideas, and a cooperative climate to attract and keep new business to the state. Lets put up a candidate on both sides that we can all feel good about. And stop the PC posturing.